Politicians should take cartoons in good spirit

Memorable evening for 19 top cartoonists:

It was a memorable evening for 19 leading cartoonists of newspapers of Sri Lanka when they met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Friday night.

The first copy of the book 'Mul Pituwata Gena Cartoon, by veteran media personality Bandula Padmakumara, was presented to the President at the ceremony.

The 206-page book, distributed by Sarasavi Bookshop, features newspaper cartoons published from January to June, 2008 in the national newspapers and presented at the popular newspaper headline program on Swarnavahini. It was a rare meeting for the cream of the country's cartoonists to meet the country's first citizen, on whom they have focused most of their cartoons in popular national newspapers.

The President appreciated the role played by the cartoonists and their contribution.

President Rajapaksa said that cartoons are a great mode of communications to readers.

"The cartoonists do not indulge in politics and politicians should enjoy their creations in good spirit", the President said.

He said producing cartoons is no easy task and such cartoons provide entertainment as well as message to the public.

The President called upon the cartoonists to hold an exhibition for the public to enjoy the humour of their productions.

Ruwan Tharaswin, Preethi Kannangara, Tissa Hewavissa, Jeyapalan, Wasantha Siriwardena, Jeffry Silva, M.D. Weeraratne, Anjana Indrajith, Avantha Attygalle, Janaranjana, Ammei Yagamoorthi, Dasa Hapuwalana, Camillus Perera, Giha de Chikera, Shantha Weeramuni, Piyal Udaya Samaraweera, Dharshana Karunatillake and Lalith Senanayake are the cartoonists whose creations were featured in the book.

Minister of Media and Mass Communication Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara were present.